How to Travel on a Budget for the Holidays

The holidays are stressful enough, so why add more to it with your holiday travel? By planning ahead, you can save money and frustration. You'll be happy to see your family and friends instead of resentful that you had to spend so much to get there that you can't take a real vacation later.

Fly Early

If you're worried about getting bumped, - and who doesn't? - choose a flight early in the day. The first flights out have much lower chance of being delayed, plus many people don't want to get up at the crack of dawn, or earlier, to go to the airport, making those flights a bit cheaper.  Not only does this mean that you avoid the delays where possible but you can enjoy your whole purpose for traveling more, getting started earlier in the day can mean an extra few hours, less disruptions and avoiding lots of traffic, whether in the air or on the ground!

Travel On Less Desirable Days

Generally, booking your travel during the holiday season is not super affordable, but you can reduce the sting by flying the least busy days to get the best deals. When demand is low, so are fares. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays tend to be less expensive than other days, because the majority of travelers are doing so over the weekend. The airport is always packed on Thursdays and Fridays with people getting out of town and then on Sundays and Mondays coming back.

If your family does their celebration on Christmas Eve or not until Christmas afternoon, then traveling on Christmas may work perfectly for you. Everyone wants to be with their families then, so airfare can be super low. 

Book as Far in Advance as Possible

Under normal circumstances, the sweet spot for getting flight deals on domestic flights is between three and five weeks, but for the holidays, you'll want to book as soon as you find an airfare deal. The closer to the holiday you get, the more airfare will be. There are almost never any last-minute price drops for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's Eve.

Use Your Airline Miles

If you're doing it right, you've probably been racking up those airline miles every chance you get. You are, right? Well, now's the time to cash them in. Again, the earlier you can book, the greater chance of getting a rewards seat, plus you can save the majority of your travel budget for later to go somewhere (more) fun.

Bring Just a Carry-On

Many airlines, especially so-called budget airlines, have upped their baggage fees. Do you really want to pay an extra $40 or more to bring your luggage along? You're probably visiting your family, so they aren't going to be bothered if you want to use their washing machine.

Pack light by choosing a mix and match wardrobe, where all your bottoms match all your tops, and try to keep your shoes to two pair. In the winter, you can easily wear a pair of boots and some fun flats with just about everything. Roll your clothing to save space and combat wrinkles. Think of it as a giant puzzle, using all available space, and you’ll be surprised by how much you can fit inside a traditional roller bag.

Pack Small Gifts 

Packing light can be a challenge, but if you're also bringing gifts along, consider small ones that are easily packable, like gift cards or jewelry. If you can't be restricted by size, ship your gifts ahead, because you'll save money mailing over baggage fees and there's smaller chance of them getting lost.

If you choose to bring gifts with you in your carry-on, make sure they are unwrapped, as TSA needs to see what is inside your bag and will open any boxes that are closed if you are chosen for a random bag check. Purchase wrapping paper, bows or bags once you reach your destination, or slip the flat items in a pocket of your bag to eliminate wrinkles.

Drive Safely

If you’re lucky to be close enough to your destination to drive there, make sure to get a tune-up on your car before embarking on your trip. A car in tip top shape will get better gas mileage and is less likely to break down. Use Metromile and other apps to find affordable gas along the way, pack a paper map for emergencies and have a list of all important phone numbers and addresses just in case.

Pack snacks and plan stops along the way, because getting out of the car and stretching out makes the trip more fun and snacks keep you from getting cranky and stopping for fast food.

Your holiday travels don’t have to break your bank. With a bit of forethought and planning you can save wherever possible, so the Season of Giving doesn’t turn into the Season of Giving the Airlines All Your Money. 

Surviving the Holidays with Family

The holidays are here and people will be taking to the skies and roads and spending way more time than they might like with their significant other and family. We travel as a couple and it's not always smooth sailing. The same goes for traveling with your family. Sometimes you get mad at each other. Sometimes you are crabby and snappy and sometimes things just don't go as planned. 

How can you be around each other 24/7 without wanting to murder each other on a one- or two-week vacation? It's not always easy, but with a little planning you can minimize ruffled feathers and maximize quality time on your trip.

Eat! 

My number one rule is to make sure you eat when you're hungry. If you don't and your partner is notorious for getting hangry (angry when hungry) as I am, then every day is going to end up with snappish or yelled "conversations". Find somewhere to eat when one of you is hungry or pack snacks in your bag for those times between meals or when you have to wait a little longer than you want to eat. I can't even tell you how many mean things pour out of my mouth when I get too hungry, and snacks will only last so long before a real meal is needed. Luckily, Eric knows it and will quickly steer me into a food place even if he's not hungry. Eating a balanced diet when you travel can help you feel better and less stressed as well.

Compromise your travel styles

No one is the same, which is good, because that would make the world a very boring place. Unfortunately, this probably means you and your spouse don't travel exactly the same. Understand your differences and understand what the other wants. Meet in the middle when things differ and you'll enjoy your trip a lot more if you're not butting heads at every turn. 

When we were in Scotland with family, we shared an Airbnb between five of us. Before I left, I knew I would be doing stuff for the blog and made a list of all the things I wanted to see, do, and eat. I shared that with everyone and they shared what they wanted to do and then we tried to mesh our schedules on things we all wanted to do and then we played it by ear on some stuff when we got there, because we also all were doing things with other family in town. It actually worked out well, as we spent time together and apart and didn't get on each others' nerves that way.

A lot of our down time looks like  this, or me on my computer and Eric doing something elsewhere.

Take some alone time

I understand that you are on vacation together. I do, but if you don't take some time to just go off and do your own thing, you will start to stress out and hate the other person's face before long. This doesn't mean that you have to spend a whole day all alone. Maybe go do a little shopping or even just make time to have your own space. We often have a vacation rental and will just go into different rooms for a while each day or he'll go swimming while I just lay on the couch and watch the news or a cartoon. Even 30 minutes of privacy can be helpful.

Do something you don't want to do

You aren't always going to want to do the same stuff. That's life. But this vacation is both of yours, so if you don't want to do all the same things, make a promise to do something the other wants and vice versa. You might find you have fun, but if nothing else, you'll know you made each other happy and that goes a long way, especially when you at least act like you are enjoying yourself. (If you don't, it really doesn't count as being nice.) Just remember, if your significant other refused to do the one thing you wanted to do most at your destination, you'd be pretty pissed, so keep that in mind when you're doing the thing they truly want to do.

The same goes for traveling with a group. I ask everyone what they want to do ad then we plan things together that everyone wants to do and then split up for other things, because not everyone wants to do everything and sometimes people just need to get away from each other.

Get enough sleep

Sleep is important, and when you don't get enough of it, it's like operating on only partial power. This is going to make you moody, crabby and probably mean. Make sure you get enough winks in, so you aren't close to snapping at any moment. It's better to miss out on something than to not enjoy doing it because you didn't sleep enough and hate everything.

Communicate

If you don't talk to each other, then it's inevitable that something will cause an unnecessary fight between you. If you have questions about something or aren't sure how to get somewhere, communicate it. If you aren't having a good time, let them know. Maybe just voicing it will make things just a little bit better. Also, you can't fix something if you don't know there's a problem.

Guess who didn't get to eat here? LOL!

Be open to change

I can't even tell you how many times things didn't work out as planned on our trips. Nothing is going to go smoothly 100% of the time. Expect and accept things may change/go wrong/come up and be willing to adapt and roll with it. It'll all work out in the end.

If you can just learn to be a little flexible and selfless, then you can have much better vacations that are filled with fun and excitement instead of stress and crying. Not everyone is going to travel well together, and it can really test the limits of your relationship(s) sometimes. If you can get through a whole trip without tears or sniping, I consider that a success, but it almost never happens over the course of two weeks, I'll take the little victories.

What are your best travel tips for not stabbing your significant other or family member?

5 Handy Travel Hacks For Seniors

Growing old can be a time to celebrate life with some much-needed leisure time during our retirement years. Of course, we tend to take things a little slower when we get older, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have some adventures! For those senior citizens who are getting ready for a holiday jaunt, here come a few tips to get organised.

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1 . Look out for senior discounts

When it comes to travel, there are plenty of discounts to access- from senior discount airfare to reduced prices on cruises or trains. Of course, you’ll want to save all the money that you can to buy yourself some lovely souvenirs of your trip. Have a shop around for the best discounts online before making a decision. Discounts will vary significantly between each airline, so price comparison websites may come in handy. You can always get your family to help you if you’re unsure.

2. Keep medications with you

Remember, keep your medications in your hand luggage as opposed to any baggage that you are checking in. Should the worst happen and your checked baggage gets lost, you won’t want to go without the medication. It might be the case that you end up needing the medication during a longer flight. Before you leave for your trip, it can be a good idea to ask your doctor for some extra medication. In the event of flights being delayed, you’ll want to have extra just in case. Before you leave, write down all of your medications incase you do need a trip to the doctor while you’re away.

3. Keep it relaxed

When you’re travelling, of course, you’ll have lots of sights that you want to see and experience. Yet, remember to keep things relaxed and take it easy. If you have a busy sight-seeing day, make the next day as relaxing as you can to balance things out. It’s great to get exercise on a vacation, but you’ll need to rest too. When the weather is hot, ensure to drink plenty of water and take enough breaks to rest. Know your limits, and take cabs instead of walking when you feel tired.

4. Travel with family 

Sometimes, senior citizens will need a little support when travelling. Whether it’s your itinerary, money, or carrying luggage; travelling with family members can be a great idea to provide you with that support.  Cruises, in particular, can be a great choice for all the family. On a cruise, you don’t have to worry too much about the planning as the destinations and activities are usually pre-planned for you. With this in mind, cruises can be an excellent option for senior citizens.

5. Be Vigilant 

Of course, whether you’re a senior or not, you always have to be vigilant when you’re travelling. Unfortunately, tourists will be a target for theft in some destinations. Some tourists like the option of buying money belts that are close to their body to deter thieves. Keep a charged mobile phone with you at all times and pre-plan your journeys so that you are always clued up on your whereabouts.

Getting older doesn't have to mean slowing down or staying home. Travel can be just as fun and still budget-friendly. Do you have a travel wish list for when  you retire?